A Low Cost BCB Based 77 GHz Microstrip Aperture Coupled Antenna Array for Automotive Radars

A BCB based 77 GHz aperture coupled microstrip antenna array for autonomous vehicle radars has been presented. The 5 x 8 elements array exhibits a broadside gain of 17.28 dBi and a directivity of 22.95 dBi that can cover a range of 150-200m to satisfy the requirements set forth by the auto industry. An innovative air-filled dielectric cavity has been introduced in the BCB layer to obtain a synthesized dielectric constant of 1.066. The array exhibits an ADS Momentum simulated return loss of -25 dB at 77 GHz with a half power beamwidth of 10 degrees. The antenna can be batch fabricated using conventional microfabrication techniques.